Compressional waves are also known as a longitudinal waves because of the way in which they travel through a medium. ... Unlike transverse waves, compressional waves can travel both through the ground and through the atmosphere. This is because both solids and fluids (the atmosphere and bodies of water) can be compressed.

What waves do require a medium?

Mechanical waves are waves that require a medium. This means that they have to have some sort of matter to travel through. These waves travel when molecules in the medium collide with each other passing on energy. One example of a mechanical wave is sound.

What wave does not require a medium?

Electromagnetic waves differ from mechanical waves in that they do not require a medium to propagate. This means that electromagnetic waves can travel not only through air and solid materials, but also through the vacuum of space.